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Some of LA’s brightest young architecture minds gathered on Saturday, April 7, to compete at the Seventh Annual Architectural Guild Charrette. The competition tests and strengthens the abilities of USCA fourth-year, fifth-year and graduate students by challenging them to design an architectural solution to a real-world issue unveiled at the event.
Thirteen teams comprised of three students each were challenged over six hours to think through and design a solution for effectively repurposing the former Macy’s store located at the Westside Pavilion. This is a real-world challenge that many shopping malls across the country are facing as more and more retailers file for bankruptcy. The teams then produced sketches, computer-generated plans and handmade 3D models of their solutions, which were reviewed by a jury of leading industry professionals, including Frances Anderton, executive producer and host of KCRW’s DnA: Design and Architecture; Alan Pullman, founder and senior principal at architectural design firm Studio One Eleven; and James C. Auld, partner of STIR Architecture.
The 2018 Architectural Guild Design Charrette winners are:
1st Place: “Team Sparkle” (Alex Weisfeld, Victoria Cuenca, Maggie Lee) $5,000.
2nd Place: “Lovell Beach House” (Scott DiCesare, Nicholas McMillan, Margot Kleinman) $3,000.
3rd Place: “O.M.” (Jiming Bai, Yifan Zhang, Xinghang Wang) $2,000.
Architects are often required to demonstrate their understanding of an issue and potential solutions when meeting with clients. Many times these solutions start as drawings on a napkin. The USC Architectural Guild Charrette was developed to test and strengthen students’ abilities to articulate concepts during client meetings. Past Design Charrettes have challenged students to develop rail studio concepts, conceptualize adaptive reuse of downtown buildings and design innovative housing for homeless individuals.

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